Star Wars Campaign - Game 6

 This past Thursday, The Fawcett Avenue Conscripts played Game 6 of an ongoing Star Wars Skirmish campaign. We used Galactic Heroes 2nd ed., from Wiley Games. 

Previously, both the Rebels and Imperials gained some temporary allies from out of time and space to help defeat their mutual enemy, the Emperor! 

The latter individual was on a grand tour of the galaxy, and had decided to visit Darth Vader’s summer home on Mustafar. He and 6 of his personal guard were holding court in the main throne room. 

This week’s game, the “first season finale” of sorts, the Rebels and the Imperials found themselves both trying to overthrow Palpatine. Luke and Han used Stormtrooper armour to infiltrate the throne room from the west, while Darth Vader entered from the east. 

The game started with a bang, as an alternate universe Sith Anakin Skywalker and old Ben Kenobi (pulled from about 10 years in the past) both cut down guards with their lightsabers. The guards quickly responded, using a laser lance to gun down a Stormtrooper heavy gunner. 

The game then took an odd turn as a bunch of “1’s”, “2’s”, and “3’s” were rolled for shooting, leaving several Rebels and Imperials frustrated or out of ammo. Even Palpatine flubbed his roll casting Force Lightning at Luke. 

Eventually, most of the Emperor’s guards were defeated or routed away. 

A series of great card draws then allowed the Rebels activation advantage. 

Luke managed to Force Grab the Emperor off his dais and drop him on the ground, wounding him. Luke then moved into contact and inflicted another wound with his saber on a Lucky re-roll. Han activated next, Charged in and instigated a Multiple Combat. Luke rolled low, and Palpatine put Luke immediately Out of Action with a natural “11” using his own lightsaber. Han rolled a natural 12, hitting the Emperor from behind and causing a third, fatal wound. Farmboy Luke, with 9 Lives, converted his OOA result into a single wound.

Anakin tried to nail Han, but they tied rolls (including all adjustments)!

As game master, I rolled for random game length, and rolled low enough that the game ended. 

Anakin and Old Ben faded from sight, returning to the dimensions from whence they came. The Rebels beat a hasty retreat as overwhelming Stormtrooper reinforcements arrived. Darth Vader blamed the Rebels for all the carnage; none of his surviving men would have gainsaid him. 

Thanks to Bill, John, Rob, Dallas, and Hugh for playing and quaffing beer!

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Next “season” will see a fractured Empire struggle with its succession, as Vader and various Imperial Moffs vie for power. The Rebels will grow in influence as the internecine struggle allows more cells to rise and strike against their oppressors.

I already have some plans in place, using some elements from the old SPI board game Freedom in the Galaxy to create specific scenarios for a System and Province campaign.